LESSON 41

God goes with me wherever I go.

1 Today's
idea will eventually overcome completely the sense of loneliness and
abandonment all the separated ones experience. Depression is an
inevitable consequence of separation. So are anxiety, worry, a deep
sense of helplessness, misery, suffering and intense fear of
loss.

2 The
separated ones have invented many "cures" for what they
believe to be "the ills of the world." But the one thing
they do not do is to question the reality of the problem. Yet its
effects cannot be cured because the problem is not real. The idea for
today has the power to end all this foolishness forever. And
foolishness it is, despite the serious and tragic forms it may
take.

3 Deep within
you is everything that is perfect, ready to radiate through you and
out into the world. It will cure all sorrow and pain and fear and
loss because it will heal the mind that thought these things were
real, and suffered out of its allegiance to them.

4 You can
never be deprived of your perfect holiness because its Source goes
with you wherever you go. You can never suffer because the Source of
all joy goes with you wherever you go. You can never be alone because
the Source of all life goes with you wherever you go. Nothing can
destroy your peace of mind because God goes with you wherever you go.

5 We
understand that you do not believe all this. How could you, when the
truth is hidden deep within, under a heavy cloud of insane thoughts,
dense and obscuring, yet representing all you see? Today we will make
our first real attempt to get past this dark and heavy cloud, and to
go through it to the light beyond.

6 There will
be only one long practice period today. In the morning, as soon as
you get up if possible, sit quietly for some three to five minutes,
with your eyes closed. At the beginning of the practice period,
repeat today's idea very slowly. Then make no effort to think of
anything. Try, instead, to get a sense of turning inward, past all
the idle thoughts of the world. Try to enter very deeply into your
own mind, keeping it clear of any thoughts that might divert your
attention.

7 From time to
time, you may repeat the idea if you find it helpful. But most of
all, try to sink down and inward, away from the world, and all the
foolish thoughts of the world. You are trying to reach past all these
things. You are trying to leave appearances and approach reality.

8 It is quite
possible to reach God. In fact it is very easy, because it is the
most natural thing in the world. You might even say it is the only
natural thing in the world. The way will open, if you believe that it
is possible. This exercise can bring very startling results even the
first time it is attempted, and sooner or later it is always
successful. We will go into more detail about this kind of practice
as we go along. But it will never fail completely, and instant
success is possible.

9 Throughout
the day use today's idea often, repeating it very slowly,
preferably with eyes closed. Think of what you are saying; what the
words mean. Concentrate on the holiness that they imply about you; on
the unfailing companionship that is yours; on the complete protection
that surrounds you.

10 You can
indeed afford to laugh at fear thoughts, remembering that God goes
with you wherever you go.